Greece


Constitutional Background

Major amendments have been adopted in 2001.  A consolidated translation has kindly been provided to ICL by George Katrougalos. However, the document is no ICL edition yet; it is presented in PDF-Format (see supra).

You will find information about the conflict between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on the Macedonia page.

History and News

  • 22 Sep 1996: PASOK under Simitis wins elections with 41,5%. 
  • July 1996: Costas Simitis wins 54% of PASOK delegates against his party-opponent Akis Tsochatzopoulos. 
  • 23 June 1996: Death of one of the most successful (and controversial) Greek leaders of the century, Andreas George Papandreou. 
  • Jan 1996: Papandreou surrenders his Prime Ministerhip because of serious sickness. Costas Simitis becomes new Prime Minister. 
  • 1981, 1985, 1993: Papandreou wins elections, the last one with 47% after narrowly escaping charges of corruption. 
  • 1980: Membership in the EU. 
  • 11 June 1975: Adoption of the new Constitution, renewing the parliamentary democracy of Greece. 
  • 1975, 1977: Karamanlis wins elections. 
  • 1974: Following the Cyprus crisis, the military regime resigns and a referendum favors parliamentary democracy. Karamanlis and Papandreou return to Greece, founding two new parties (New Democracy and Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement PASOK). Karamanlis forms a government of "National Unity". 
  • 1973: The Papadopoulos regime collapses under an internal military coup. 
  • 1967: The colonels' putsch installs the dictatorial regime under G. Papadopoulos; the political leadership is exiled. 
  • 1958: Revision of the constitution. 
  • 1952: Membership in NATO. 
  • 1946-1949: Civil war. 
  • 1941-1944: Occupation by German troops. 
  • 1936-1941: Dictatorship of I. Metaxas. 
  • 1935: Monarchy is reinstated under King George II. 
  • 1927: Constitution of the "Second Greek Republic". 
  • 1924: Proclamation of the Greek Republic. 
  • 1922: Defeat of Greece in the war against Turkey in Minor Asia. 1,5 million of Greek refugees flee in mainland. 
  • 1912-13: Balkan wars. 
  • 1911: Revision of the Constitution by E. Venizelos. Foundation of the rule of law in Greece. 
  • 1875: Foundation of parliamentary regime. 
  • 1864: New Constitution. 
  • 1844: The first Constitution of the Greek independent State. 
  • 1830: Declaration of an independent Greek kingdom. 
  • 1821-1827: Revolution and war of Independence. 
  • 1453-1821: Turkish rule. 
  • 330-1453: Byzantine Empire. 
  • 197 B.C.: Beginning of Roman rule. 
  • 336-323 B.C.: Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia, student of Aristotle, founds the Helenistic Empire. 
  • 431-404 B.C.: Peloponnesian war. 
  • 446-429 B.C.: Periclean time. Golden age of Athens. 
  • 490-479 B.C.: Persian wars (Marathon, Salamis, Platää). 
  • 509 B.C.: Foundation of democracy by Kleisthenes. 
  • 600 B.C.: New Constitution by Solon in Athens.
  • 2nd millennium B.C.: Minoan and Cycladic civilizations.
For methodology see: Comparing Constitutions and International Constitutional Law.
© 1994 - 27.6.2020 / For corrections please contact A. Tschentscher.